Local Obituaries for Topeka, Kansas & Shawnee County
Esperanza "Hope" Cuevas
Feb 19, 2026
Esperanza “Hope” Cuevas, age 98, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Oakley Place of Topeka.
She was born to Pedro Barrón and Hilaria Santacruz on August 29, 1927, in San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. On November 18, 1950, Hope united in Holy Matrimony with her beloved husband, Jose M. “Joe” Cuevas, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church....
Nina M. Mendoza
Feb 18, 2026
Nina M. Mendoza, age 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in Carbondale, Kansas.
She was born on December 9, 1942, to Paul and Nina (Gray) Humbert. Nina built a life defined by strength, independence, and unwavering devotion to her family. She dedicated more than 30 years of service to Garlinghouse Printing, retiring as a Supervisor after a long...
Frederic Heisner Bahr
Feb 7, 2026
Frederic H. Bahr, 87, of Berryton, passed away Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.
He was born November 14, 1938, in Houston, Texas, to Carl Adam and Louise Elizabeth Heisner Bahr. Frederic graduated from Lutheran High Academy of Houston, Texas, and went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, and an MA in Educational...
Daniel Guy Danker
Feb 4, 2026
Daniel Guy "Dan" Danker, 78, of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Midland Care Hospice House in Topeka.
More information will be available soon.
Derek A. Schmidt
Feb 3, 2026
Derek Alan Schmidt, 55, of Topeka, passed away on February 3, 2026, at his home in Overbrook following a brief illness. He was born on September 20, 1970, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the son of Frederick John and Mary Ann Burghart Schmidt. Derek was one of seven siblings.
He graduated from Topeka West High School and dedicated 31...
Jared Edward Wilcox
Jan 22, 2026
Jared Edward Wilcox, age 36, passed away Thursday, January 22, 2026 in Topeka, Kansas. Born August 1, 1989 in Kansas City, Missouri, Jared was the son of Dennis Wilcox and Francie Wilcox of Silver Lake, Kansas.
A resident of Silver Lake, Kansas, he graduated from Silver Lake High School in 2008. He continued his education at Washburn Institute of Technology, and...
Timothy Lee Herl
Jan 22, 2026
Timothy Lee Herl, age 64, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born on September 25, 1961, in Topeka, Kansas, to James and Barbara (Lewis) Herl, who preceded him in death.
Tim was raised in Topeka and graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 1980. He went on to attend Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas,...
Dianne Lee Houser
Jan 19, 2026
Dianne Lee Houser was born in Wichita, Kansas on September 14, 1941, to Virginia Lee and Leslie Thomas Frank. She was eldest of four siblings and grew up in the Wichita/Goddard area. She graduated from Wichita North High school. She was an active swimmer and instructor with the original Wichita Swim Club.
On September 4, 1959, she married the love of...
Lavon Joy Vossen
Jan 19, 2026
Lavon Joy Vossen, age 91, of Topeka, KS, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Midland Hospice House.
She was born the daughter of Lloyd and Ferne (Campbell) Shearer on August 19, 1934, in Wilsey, KS. Lavon was raised on a farm during the Great Depression where she understood the meaning of hard work and determination. Her mother was...
Gerald Joseph Rohr, Sr.
Jan 17, 2026
Gerald Joseph Rohr, Sr. died on January 17, 2026, in Russellville, AR.
He was born in Bazine, KS on December 12, 1940, to his parents Fidelis Antone Rohr (deceased) and Mary Edna Legleighter Rohr (deceased). He is preceded in death by his siblings, Delores Rohr, Vernon Rohr, Delbert Rohr, and Estella Rohr.
Gerald was an educator by trade. He began his teaching...
Francisco Juarez Garcia
Jan 16, 2026
Francisco Juarez “Kiko” Garcia, 100, of Topeka, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 16, 2026, at his home.
Frank was born in Topeka on October 3, 1925, to Jose Del Refugio Valdivia Garcia and Maria Secundina Juarez.
He was raised in Topeka, where he met his future bride and mother of his children, Esther Ortiz Garcia, whom he married in 1943.
He joined...
Marcell "Bud" J. Mosher
Jan 15, 2026
Marcell J. “Bud” Mosher, age 89, of Topeka, KS, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Topeka.
Bud was born the son of Marcell F. and Colette Rose (Heptig) Mosher on August 5, 1936, in Topeka. He was proud 1954 graduate from Hayden Catholic High School where he excelled is sports, especially in football. Bud remained a loyal fan...
Mark Wunder
Jan 13, 2026
Mark Wunder, age 75, of Topeka, KS, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Topeka.
He was born the 2nd of 12 children to Thomas Jerome and Beulah Faye (Roark) Wunder on January 19, 1950, in Topeka, KS. He was predeceased by sister, Kathleen Gayle Wunder Johnson; brother, Randall Leo Wunder; and sister, Trudy Ann Wunder.
Survivors include his eight siblings,...
Carmen G. Guthrie
Jan 11, 2026
Carmen G. Guthrie, 88, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Plaza West Healthcare & Rehab, in Topeka.
She was born November 23, 1937, in Brownsville, Texas. Her parents were Esparanza “Hope” Castro and Roman Fernandez. Carmen attended West High School in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a member of the school choir and, because of her talent...
Charles Hull
Jan 5, 2026
Long time resident of Morton County, Kansas, Charles Franklin Hull, 75, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026, at LMH Health in Lawrence. Throughout the years there is a strong possibility that he touched your life in some way. Perhaps you were in need of the fire department, emergency medical services, a plumbing crisis, or just a...
Katherine Mae Hays
Jan 3, 2026
Katherine “Kay” Mae Hays-Kelly, 69, of Topeka, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, surrounded by her children at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.
She was born April 25, 1956, in Saint Louis, Missouri, to George and Janet (Bush) Kelly. Kay lived in Colorado for most of her life, and a few years in Washington. She graduated from High School in...
Darlene Faye Ortiz
Jan 1, 2026
Darlene Faye (Cole) Ortiz, age 77, of Carbondale, Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at Stormont Vail Health, surrounded by her family.
She was born on April 20, 1948, in Emporia, Kansas, to John Joseph Cole and Bertha Margaret Nellie Piper Cole. Darlene was raised with strong values rooted in faith, family, and hard work, which guided her throughout...
Alice Marie Wietharn
Dec 30, 2025
Alice Marie (Heinen) Wietharn, age 87, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away Dec. 30, 2025, at Stormont Vail Hospital. Born August 8, 1938, to Joseph A. and Martha (Huerter) Heinen, Alice was the oldest of six children born and raised on the Heinen farm near Kelly, Kansas.
Alice attended District 21 School, a one room schoolhouse in Kelly, until 1949. She then...
Patricia "Patty" Ann Guerrero
Dec 30, 2025
Patricia Ann “Patty” Guerrero, age 73, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2025, at her home. She was born on July 26, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas, to John Garcia and Guadalupe Carreno.
Patty was a woman whose life revolved around faith, family, and finding joy in everyday moments. A lifelong Catholic and devoted member of Our Lady of...
Jay Toelkes
Dec 29, 2025
What a journey Jay Toelkes had in his earthly life. He passed away peacefully on December 29, 2025, at Harmony House Memory Care in Salem, Oregon where he had resided for the last ten months. His wife, Sharon Janney-Toelkes, was by his side, and had lovingly cared for him at home in Silverton, Oregon for five years prior.
Jay was born...
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